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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2025–Apr 14th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Esplanade, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Retallack.

Buried surface hoar continues to produce natural and remotely triggered avalanches on north facing slopes.

Stick to conservative terrain, free from overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity on the buried surface hoar layer includes naturally triggered slabs to size 3, and human-triggered to size 2, including remote triggers.

These occurred on high elevation north facing slopes in the Selkirks. Reactivity is most notable in wind affected terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions at higher elevations vary from wind affected surfaces to crusts on south facing slopes.

A reactive layer of surface hoar on sheltered north facing slopes can be found 30-70 cm deep, at upper treeline and alpine elevations. This layer is present as a crust on south facing slopes.

Several melt freeze crusts can be found throughout the upper snowpack. Weak layers buried in early March, February, and January are now anywhere from 150 cm to 250 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy with flurries. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.